Portable air conditioner apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable air conditioner apparatus designed primarily for use with recreational vehicles includes an air conditioner unit having wheels for portability and a head adaptor assembly which is vertically adjustable with respect to the unit for alignment with a window in the vehicle. The head adaptor unit consists of an insulated pan communicating with the air conditioner unit through flexible hoses. The pan is sufficiently deep to receive jalousie windows or the like when open, and has a peripheral gasket about its open end for sealing contact with the vehicle. Leveling mechanisms may be provided on both the front and back of the air conditioning unit properly to position such unit and assembly with respect to the vehicle for effectuation of a tight seal.

United States Patent [1 Hergatt et al.

[ Dec. 11, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1 PORTABLE AIRCONDITIONER APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Robert N. Hergatt, Pavonia; AlvyM.

Hazen, Mansfield; Joseph Priess, both of Mansfield, all of Ohio [73]Assignee: Camper Comfort Corporation,

Pavonia, Ohio [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 21] Appl. No.: 251,185

pan communicating with the air conditioner unit through flexible hoses.The pan is sufficiently deep to receive jalousie windows or the likewhen open, and

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I has a peripheral gasket about its open end for sealing I contact withthe vehicle. Leveling mechanisms may be [56] g gszgz gz provided on boththe front and back of the air conditioning unit properly to positionsuch unit and assem- 62/262 bly with respect to the vehicle foreffectuation of a tight seal. I

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62/237 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBDEBI 1 ma SHEEIZUFZ Ill. 64

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER APPARATUS The present invention relatesgenerally as indicated to a portable air conditioner apparatus adaptedto be used with a variety of different recreational vehicles, such ascampers, trailers, and mobile homes.

Recreational vehicles have become increasinglypopular for vacationand-weekend travel as well as for providing semipermanent residences,and a number of a campground or trailer park facilities have beenestablished to handle the various needs of such vehicles on bothtemporary and permanent bases. The facilities presently provided in suchcampgrounds are generally limited to providing the basic needs such aselectricity and water. Eventually however, othe facilities or services,such as air conditioning for vehicles unequipped with the same may beprovided, which is a principal object of this invention. Although airconditioners for a cooling vehicles at restaurants or drive-in movietheaters are known, such air conditioning units are not readilyadaptable or practical for campgrounds, trailer parks and the likebecause of the permanent installation required which precludesadjustment of space allotments, reception of different vehicle types,and easy I and inexpensive maintenance.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide a portable airconditioner apparatus that is readily adapted to a variety ofrecreational vehicles having windows of different sizes and types. Ingeneral this is accomplished by providing a vertically adjustable headadaptor assembly of sufficient size fully to encase most windows whileallowing thesame to be opened and closed as desired.

and head adaptor assembly and by the effectuation of 1 a tight sealbetween such assembly and the side of the vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such aportable air conditioner apparatus with a a head adaptor assembly thatcan readily be converted from an operative elevated position to arelatively compact inoperative position (and vice versa) for storage andrelocation. A jack support apparatus may be provided for this purposepermitting the head adaptor to be lowered substantially to the level ofthe air conditioning unit and then pivoted to an inverted andinoperative position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide levelingmechanisms on the air conditioning unit to permit adjustment of the unitto an inclination similar to that of the vehicle, whereby the headadaptor assem- .bly will properly mate with the vehicle wall foreffectuation of a tight seal.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly. pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed v drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but oneof the various ways in which the principles of the invention may beemployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of air conditionerapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention showingthe head adaptor assembly in an elevated position sealed about arecreational vehicle window;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the headadaptor assembly in its lowered position and pivoted downwardly for easyportability and storage;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view partially in sectionof the apparatus showing the jack support and air discharge hose detail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the air conditioning unittaken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the split blowerhousing as assembled;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view partially in section of thehead adaptor assembly shown in operative position as seen from the line55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the back levelingmechanism;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front end elevation view of theapparatus of FIG. 1 as seen from the line 18-7 of FIG. 1 showing thefront leveling mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section through the jack assembly ofFIG. 5, taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 5 to show theposition of the head adaptor assembly lock mechanism when elevated; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section through the jack assembly ofFIG. 2, taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 2 to show theposition of the head adaptor assembly lock mechanism after lowering andpivoting downwardly tee head adaptor assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT bar 5 supported by suitablebrackets 6 attached to the back panel by which the back of the unit maybe lifted from a supported position for easy movement on the frontwheels 3. A head adaptor assembly 7 is supported from the front end offrame 2 on a vertical adjustment mechanism indicated generally at 8.Such vertical adjustment mechanism 8 includes a pair of laterally spacedvertically extending L-shaped support members 10 (see FIG. 3) connectedalong their vertical legs to the front end of housing 2 adjacent thesides thereof. a horizontal beam 11 is connected to the ends of thehorizontal legs of L-shape supports 10 for supporting a rod 12 whoseends project outwardly beyond the L- shape supports 10 for pivotallysupporting the panel housings 13 of conventional rack and lever jacks14. Vertical racks 15 cooperatively pass through the hollow pawlhousings 13 and may be moved either upwardly or downwardly by properbiasing of the pawl andsubsequentoperation of the jack levers 16.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the head adaptor assembly 7 is attachedtoone end of the vertical racks l5 for movement therewith as by means ofT-brace members 17 welded to the vertical racks at an angle and rivetedto the back side of the head adaptor assembly along the length of themembers 17. The pivotal connection of the jacks 14 on the ends of therod 12 permits the head adaptor assembly 7 to be pivoted from theoperative FIG. 1 position to the stored position shown in FIG. 2, and byfully lowering racks 15 and pivoting the supported head adaptor assembly7 to its stored position, as shown in FIG. 2, the portable airconditioner apparatus 1 is relatively compact for easy movement andstorage. I

To prevent pivotal movement of the jacks 14 and head adaptor assembly 7when in the upright raised position, there is provided a pair of lockmechanisms 18 each desirably consisting of a generally U-shape element19 having one leg 20 received in an opening 21 in each jack housing 13and urged toward a fixed plate 22 on each of the support members by aspring 23 for receipt in an opening 24 therein. As apparent, when theleg 20 is received in the opening 24 in the fixed plate 22 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 8, the jacks 14 and head adaptor assembly '7 are lockedagainst downward pivotal movement.

To pivot the head adaptor assembly 7 to the stored position shown inFIG. 2 merely requires lowering the head adaptor assembly by operationof the jacks l4 and withdrawing the lock elements 19 from the openings24 in the=fixed plates 22. However, before the head adaptor assembly isactually pivoted downwardly to the stored position shown in FIG. 2, theother legs 25 of the lock elements 19 are desirably inserted intoopenings 26 in the upper ends of the vertical racks to prevent thevertical racks from moving relative to the jack housings 13 afterpivoting to keep the head adaptor assembly from falling into engagementwith the ground as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.

Referring further to FIG. 5, the head adaptor assembly 7 includes anouter pan-shaped housing 28 having bottom wall 29, top wall 30, sidewalls 31 and back wall 32. An inner liner 33 of similar shape but withreduced dimensions is concentrically positioned within the outerhousing. The space between the inner liner 33 and outer housing isfilled with polyurethane sprayed insulation 34 thermally to insulate theassembly. A resilient gasket 35 of latex rubber or other suitablematerial extends entirely about the open end of the housing to provide aseal between the contacted side 36 of the vehicle and such housing whenthe adaptor assembly is moved into the operative position illustrated.Such gasket also permits certain adjustments to be made to the relativepositions of the head adapter assembly and air conditioning unit withoutmarring or otherwise damaging the side of the recreational vehicle. Itwill be seen from FIG. 5 that the pan-shaped housing 28 is desirablysufficiently deep to allow a jalousie window 37 or the like to be openedoutwardly into the housing while in operative position.

Two diagonally spaced and slightly inclined apertures 38, 39 areprovided in the back wall 32, insulation 34 and inner liner 33, as bestshown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The aperture 38 is a cool air dischargeaperture and is positioned above aperture 39 which is the air withdrawalor return aperture. Hose mounting stubs 40 and 41 may be insertedthrough such apertures 38, 39 and welded to the outer face of back wall32.

The cool air discharge mounting stub 40 has an inner cylindrical member42 extending inside the housing and a concentric outer cylindricalmember 43. The inner cylindrical member 42 is positioned within member43 by peripherally spaced support elements (not shown), providing an airgap 44 therebetween which acts to insulate inner member 42. Return stub41 may be an uninsulated cylindrical member which at its inner endextends within liner 33 and at its outer end projects well beyond backwall 32.

Flexible hoses or tubes 47 and 52 are connected between the mountingstubs 40 and 41 and the discharge and return ports 45 and 46,respectively, of the air conditioning unit. Both of such hoses may bemade of flexible plastic material reinforced by fiber glass impregna'tion and spiral wires. The cool air discharge hose 47 consists of twoflexible tubes 49 and 50, as best shown in FIG. 3. The inside tube 49 isof the same diameter as inner member 42 of mounting stub 40 and isconcentrically positioned within outer hose 50 by peripherally locatedspacer elements 51, the trapped air between such hoses acting toinsulate the cool air flow through inside tube 49 from atmosphericconditions. The spacer elements 51 may be made of polyethylene sponge orother suitable material and keep the inner hose 49 substantiallycentered within the outer hose 50 even when the hoses are bent. Insidetube 49 is smaller in diameter than air return hose 52 which results inrelatively faster air velocity for the cool air. As an example, the coolair discharge tube 49 may be a 4 inch tube (I.D.) with a 6 inch I.D.tube 50 surrounding the same, whereas the air return hose 52 may have aninner diameter of approximately six inches. As shown, the hoses are ofsufficient length to permit the head adaptor assembly to be eitherpivoted to its stored position or fully elevated, and such hoses areconnected to the mounting stubs by fitting the ends thereof around suchstubs. Conventional clamping devices or adhesives (not shown) may beused to secure such hoses in place.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the cool air flow through hose 47 is generatedby a conventional squirrel cage blower which is encased in an insulatedsplit housing 55. Such housing includes an upper housing section 56 anda lower housing section 57, the former having a bottom lip 58 ofslightly increased dimension that fits over the upper portion of thelower housing half. Fastening means 59 are passed through apertures inlip 58 to engage lower section 57, thereby to secure the two halves ofthe housing in assembled relationship. The lower housing half 57 ismounted on evaporator and condenser housing 59 to support the assembledhousing within frame 2. The two halves 56, 57 are formed withcomplemental recesses 60 for the blower wheel choke ring and withcomplemental semi-circular apertures 61 for the motor output shaft 62.Such a two piece blower housing 55 facilitates manufacturing assembly ofthe air conditioning unit and also field maintenance of the blowermotor.

The air conditioner body frame or housing 2 is provided with front andback leveling mechanisms 64 and 65 so that the apparatus 1 may beproperly positioned with respect to any recreational vehicle. The frontmechanism 64, as best shown in FIG. 7, is directly connected at itslower end to front axle 66 adjacent one of the wheels 3. Such axle maybe mounted to frame 2 by a downwardly depending bearing block 67 havinga spherical bearing 68 therein which permits such axle to be pivoted ina vertical plane about such block.

The front mechanism 64 includes an elongated tie rod 69 pivotallyconnected at one end to the axle 66 and threaded at the other end forthreaded engagement by a rotatable nut 70 retained against axialmovement by a suitable mounting bracket 71 fastened to the housing 2.The tie rod 69 and nut '70 thus form a link be- I tween the housing 2and axle 66 of adjustable length. By rotation of the nut '76, the lengthof the link may be I varied which in turn changes the angular positionof the axle 66. Such changes in the angular position of the i axle aremade to compensate for variations in terrain i as illustrated in phantomlines in FIG. 7.

The back leveling mechanism 65 as best shown in FIG. 6 includes athreaded rod 80 threadedly received in a tapped bore in a block 81attached to the body frame 2 inwardly of a wire screen 82 attached tothe rear of the frame. The bottom of rod 80 is provided with a baseplate 83 which acts as a support for the rear end of the air conditionerframe or housing 2. The top end of the rod 80 is received in a tubularmember 84 rotatably suspended from the top of the housing by a rod 85having an exposed knob 86 on the upper end thereof. The tubular member84 has alongitudinal slot 87 in one side thereof and the upper end ofthe rod 80 has a pin 88 extending laterally therefrom through the slot87, whereby turning of the knob 86 by hand will cause axial movement ofthe r0d80 and base plate 83 relative to the tubular member 84 andhousing 2 to vary the relative position of the back of the housing.

A mercury tilt switch 90 (see FIG. 7) may also be positioned on thefront of the housing 2 to shut off power with the window in therecreational vehicle. During pivoting of the head adaptor assembly 7from the stored position of FIG. 2 to the operative position, the endsof the legs 20 of the lock elements 19 will be cammed outwardly by thecam surfaces 91 on the fixed plates 22 and guided by such cam surfacesinto engagement with the openings 24 in such fixed plates for lockingthe jacks 14 and head adaptor assembly 7 in the vertical uprightposition. of course, before the head adaptor assembly 7 can beraisedrelative to the jack housings 13, the lock elements 19 must be retractedslightly to withdraw the other legs 25 from the openings 26 in thevertical racks and pivoted out of alignment therewith as shown in FIGS.5 and 8. The relative vertical orientations of the adaptor head assemblyand vehicle side may then be observed to determine if adjustment of unitposition is necessary to provide for effectuation of a proper seal. Ifnecessary, such adjustment may be implemented by pivotal adjustment ofthe wheel axle 66 and/or by vertical adjustment of the rear base plate83 relative to housing 2. When proper orientation has been achieved, thehousing 2 may be pushed 1 inwardly to move gasket 35 around the headadaptor assembly 7 into sealing contact with the side of the vehicleabout window 37. The air conditioning unit may then be energized tosupply cool air to the vehicle, as

i indicated by arrows A, while simultaneously removing relatively warmerair, as indicated by arrows B (see FIG. 5). i

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the air conditionerapparatus of the present invention readily adapts itselffor use inproviding air conditioning for a variety of recreational vehicles andthe like, and is of acompact design which permits ready storage ortransport of the apparatus from one site to another as desired.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A portable air conditioner apparatus for use with recreationalvehicles or the like comprising an air conditioning unit having a coolair discharge port and a re I turn port, a vertically adjustable headadaptor assembly having a pan shape housing, flexible air ductsconnecting said cool air discharge port and return port to said housing,said head adaptor assembly being vertically adjustable relative to saidair conditioning unit to position said pan shape housing sealinglyagainst the side of a vehicle about an opening therein, whereby coolairmay selectively be delivered to the vehicle through the air ductconnected to said cool air discharge port and relatively warmer airremoved from the same through the air duct connected to said air returnport.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head adaptor assembly ismounted by jack support means to said air conditioning unit forcontrolled vertical adjustment relative to said unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air conditioning unit ismounted on front wheels, and leveling means are provided to positionsaid unit and supported head adaptor assembly at an inclination similarto that of a vehicle, whereby said apparatus may readily be moved fromone vehicle to another and positioned so that said head adaptor assemblymay cooperatively mate with the similarly inclined vehicle side foreffectuation of a tight seal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said leveling means includes aleveling apparatus connected to the back of said unit, said levelingapparatus comprising a threaded rod threadably connected to said unitfor selective vertical movement relative thereto and a base plateconnected to the bottom of said rod to support the back of said unit ata position correlative to the relative position of said rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said leveling apparatus furthercomprises a tubular member for receipt of the upper end of said threadedrod, a longitudinal slot in the side of said tubular member, a pinextending laterally from the upper end of said threaded rod through saidslot, and means for rotating said tubular member to cause axial movementof said threaded rod relative to said tubular member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said tubularmember comprises a second rod suspended from the top of said unit, andan exposed knob on the upper end of said second rod for rotating saidsecond rod.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said front wheels are mounted to apivotal axle and said leveling means further includes a second levelingapparatus connected to the front of said unit, said second levelingapparatus comprising a link of adjustable length with the bottom of said:linkbeingconnected to said axle, whereby ad justment of the link lengthresults in pivotal movement of said axle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pan-shaped housing has a gasketextending around the entire periphery of the open end thereof to effecta seal with the vehicle side, said housing being sufficiently deep toreceive windows and the like that open outwardly from the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said panshaped housing has inlet andoutlet apertures in the base wall thereof with outwardly extending hosemounting stubs about said apertures, said pan-shaped housing and inletmounting stub being insulated to minimize heat gain in the cool air fromsaid unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said duct for cool air between saidcool air discharge port and housing inlet aperture is insulated byplacing a second concentric duct about the first duct, such concentricrelationship being maintained by peripherally located spacer elementsbetween said ducts.

1 1. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head adaptor assembly ismounted for pivotal movement between an upright operative position and acollapsed lower inoperative position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said head adaptor assembly ismounted by jack support means to said air conditioning unit forcontrolled vertical adjustment relative to said unit, and means areprovided for pivoting said jack support means and thus said head adaptorassembly to said unit for pivotal movement between such uprightoperative position and lower inoperative position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for releasablylocking said jack support means and thus said head adaptor assembly insuch upright operative position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lastmentioned means comprisesa fixed plate on said unit having an opening therein, and an axiallymovable lock element on said jack support means axially movable into andout of engagement with said opening in said fixed plate.

15. The apparatus'of claim 14 further comprising means for preventingmovement of said head adaptor assembly relative to said jack supportmeans when in the lower inoperative position.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air conditioning unit includesa blower motor encased in an insulated split housing to facilitateassembly of said unit and field maintenance of said motor.

1. A portable air conditioner apparatus for use with recreationalvehicles or the like comprising an air conditioning unit having a coolair discharge port and a return port, a vertically adjustable headadaptor assembly having a pan shape housing, flexible air ductsconnecting said cool air discharge port and return port to said housing,said head adaptor assembly being vertically adjustable relative to saidair conditioning unit to position said pan shape housing sealinglyagainst the side of a vehicle about an opening therein, whereby cool airmay selectively be delivered to the vehicle through the air ductconnected to said cool air discharge port and relatively warmer airremoved from the same through the air duct connected to said air returnport.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head adaptor assembly ismounted by jack support means to said air conditioning unit forcontrolled vertical adjustment relative to said unit.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said air conditioning unit Is mounted on frontwheels, and leveling means are provided to position said unit andsupported head adaptor assembly at an inclination similar to that of avehicle, whereby said apparatus may readily be moved from one vehicle toanother and positioned so that said head adaptor assembly maycooperatively mate with the similarly inclined vehicle side foreffectuation of a tight seal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein saidleveling means includes a leveling apparatus connected to the back ofsaid unit, said leveling apparatus comprising a threaded rod threadablyconnected to said unit for selective vertical movement relative theretoand a base plate connected to the bottom of said rod to support the backof said unit at a position correlative to the relative position of saidrod.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said leveling apparatus furthercomprises a tubular member for receipt of the upper end of said threadedrod, a longitudinal slot in the side of said tubular member, a pinextending laterally from the upper end of said threaded rod through saidslot, and means for rotating said tubular member to cause axial movementof said threaded rod relative to said tubular member.
 6. The apparatusof claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said tubular member comprisesa second rod suspended from the top of said unit, and an exposed knob onthe upper end of said second rod for rotating said second rod.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said front wheels are mounted to a pivotalaxle and said leveling means further includes a second levelingapparatus connected to the front of said unit, said second levelingapparatus comprising a link of adjustable length with the bottom of saidlink being connected to said axle, whereby adjustment of the link lengthresults in pivotal movement of said axle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said pan-shaped housing has a gasket extending around the entireperiphery of the open end thereof to effect a seal with the vehicleside, said housing being sufficiently deep to receive windows and thelike that open outwardly from the vehicle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said panshaped housing has inlet and outlet apertures in thebase wall thereof with outwardly extending hose mounting stubs aboutsaid apertures, said pan-shaped housing and inlet mounting stub beinginsulated to minimize heat gain in the cool air from said unit.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said duct for cool air between said coolair discharge port and housing inlet aperture is insulated by placing asecond concentric duct about the first duct, such concentricrelationship being maintained by peripherally located spacer elementsbetween said ducts.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said headadaptor assembly is mounted for pivotal movement between an uprightoperative position and a collapsed lower inoperative position.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein said head adaptor assembly is mounted byjack support means to said air conditioning unit for controlled verticaladjustment relative to said unit, and means are provided for pivotingsaid jack support means and thus said head adaptor assembly to said unitfor pivotal movement between such upright operative position and lowerinoperative position.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprisingmeans for releasably locking said jack support means and thus said headadaptor assembly in such upright operative position.
 14. The apparatusof claim 13 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a fixed plate onsaid unit having an opening therein, and an axially movable lock elementon said jack support means axially movable into and out of engagementwith said opening in said fixed plate.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14further comprising means for preventing movement of said head adaptorassembly relative to said jack support means when in the lowerinoperative position.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said airconditioning unit includes a blower motor encased in an insUlated splithousing to facilitate assembly of said unit and field maintenance ofsaid motor.